Then Dowd tells Trump that the president can’t testify and “you are disabled,” according to Woodward. The journalist added: “I mean, imagine your lawyer telling you you’re disabled. And you can’t testify because you can’t tell the truth. You just make things up.”

On Monday, Colbert also asked Woodward if he ever considers the motives of his sources, such as former White House aide Rob Porter, ousted amid abuse allegations from ex-wives. Generally, no, Woodward said, who then explained how he uses information sources offer and cross-checks it with what other sources have, down to “microscopic detail[s],” until he can know exactly what happened when.

The Woodward book is a scam. I don’t talk the way I am quoted. If I did I would not have been elected President. These quotes were made up. The author uses every trick in the book to demean and belittle. I wish the people could see the real facts - and our country is doing GREAT!

“What is the contest in America other than the political contest? It’s a contest for the truth — what is the truth — and I’m willing to put myself out here,” Woodward continued. “I’ve done the work. This is the best reporting you can do, or that I can do.”

Trump has his “First Amendment rights. He can say anything,” Woodward continued. He then quoted former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee, who helmed the paper during the Watergate years.

“When there was a contest, back and forth, he said, ‘the truth emerges,’ ” Woodward recalled. “And the truth will emerge on this, too.”

Elahe IzadiElahe Izadi is a pop culture writer for The Washington Post. Prior to joining The Post in 2014 as a general assignment reporter, she covered Congress, race and local news. She has worked for National Journal, WAMU, TBD.com and The Gazette community newspapers. Follow